A call for out-of-state investigator
Senate leaders said yesterday they want to see the Senate Ethics Committee look out of state for an investigator in its probe of Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg and the sexual misconduct allegations against his husband in an effort to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.
“I would be happy if it were out of the country, to be honest with you,” said acting Senate President Harriette Chandler. “I want so badly for this to be so squeaky clean. I don’t want there to be a hint of anything being the slightest bit wrong or offcolor.”
The outside probe will hone in on whether Rosenberg violated any Senate rules in connection with allegations published by the Boston Globe that his husband, Bryon Hefner, sexually assaulted or harassed four men while boasting of his influence.
Rosenberg, who took a leave from his president post Monday, had claimed nearly three years ago when he assumed the presidency that he had placed a “firewall” between his husband and the Senate after Hefner bragged about influence in the Senate.
Whether that firewall stood up should also be part of the investigation, said Sen. Barbara L’Italien.
“That was the standard that was set by the Senate president three years ago, and I believe that is what we should be looking at,” she said.
“I would like to see us go out of state,” she added. “But there were plenty of questions around the size and scope (of the probe). There are people who would like to see this wrap up in 30 to 45 days, but I don’t see that as a guarantee.”
Members of the Senate’s Ethics Committee yesterday said it’s their “intention” to release a report on its investigation while protecting the confidentiality of any victims or witnesses. The sixmember committee added that it intends to select the investigator “within the next two weeks.”